The Central Oregon Shared Stewardship Alliance’s (COSSA) first opportunity to apply for project funding emerged with the announcement that the State of Oregon had authorized Senate Bill 762 in June of 2021. The application hit the street in mid-November 2021 with a deadline of January 7th, 2022. The turn-around time was inordinately tight, leaving many groups to throw up their hands and walk away. 

COFSF, however, leaned into the moment and called a meeting of COSSA to explore a possible application. Then Deschutes County Forester, Ed Keith, Boone Zimmerlee, and Alex Enna came prepared with shape files, match data, and a spirit of optimism. The result was an ambitious application that included 52,225 acres and 18 diverse partners across federal, tribal, state, municipal, and private lands.